Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: A Land of Opportunity, Resilience and Community
Sierra Leone is a country of remarkable resilience, rich culture, and untapped potential. While the nation continues to face development challenges, including poverty, unemployment, and limited economic opportunities for many young people, it is also home to strong communities, vibrant traditions, breathtaking natural beauty, and an ambitious young population.
Young people aged 15-35 make up a significant proportion of the population, creating both challenges and opportunities for education, employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Across the country, communities are working to create brighter futures through local leadership, enterprise, sport, and community-driven development.
From stunning beaches and lush landscapes to welcoming communities and a rich cultural heritage, Sierra Leone is a country with enormous potential that extends far beyond the headlines it has historically received.
Inspired by the spirit of community and opportunity reflected in its name, Make Ways Foundation is committed to working alongside local communities to create meaningful pathways for health, wellbeing, education, employment, and empowerment. Through locally led and sustainable initiatives, we aim to support individuals and communities to thrive and build a stronger future together.
70% of Sierra Leoneans aged 15-25 are unemployed.
We create meaningful pathways for young people and their communities to thrive.
Na Wi Youne, meaning “It’s Our Own” in Krio, is Make Ways Foundation’s community-led social enterprise. The store creates local employment opportunities, supports small businesses, and generates income that is reinvested into our sports and youth development programmes. Through every purchase, customers help provide sporting equipment, expand access to recreation and physical activity, and create opportunities for young people to learn, play, and thrive in their communities.
Na Wi Youne: Supporting local business, strengthening communities, and investing in the next generation. Visit us at #10 Murray Town Junction, Freetown, Sierra Leone. Open Monday-Saturday.
The Make Ways Sports Academy is Make Ways Foundation’s flagship community development initiative in Sierra Leone. Based in Kamakwie, the programme uses sport, specifically running, as a tool to improve health, wellbeing, education, leadership, and opportunity for young people. Through the collection and distribution of sporting equipment, community sporting activities, and youth engagement initiatives, the Academy creates pathways for participation, confidence-building, teamwork, and personal development. The programme also promotes healthy lifestyles while supporting local schools, sports clubs, and community groups with access to resources that would otherwise be unavailable.
Annually, the Academy works with our partners to sponsor runners in the Street Child Sierra Leone Marathon in Makeni. Participation in the marathon provides much more than a race experience. It builds confidence, resilience, discipline, and a sense of achievement while encouraging healthy lifestyles and personal goal setting. For many participants, completing the marathon is a powerful reminder of what they are capable of achieving, helping to develop leadership skills, self-belief, and the confidence to pursue opportunities both on and off the track.
The Women’s & Girls Circles provide safe, inclusive spaces where women and girls can come together to connect, learn, and grow. Operating in Makeni and Kamakwie, the circles foster leadership, confidence, wellbeing, and peer support through facilitated discussions, skills-building workshops, mentorship, and community action. Topics include menstrual health and wellbeing, leadership, gender equality, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and personal development. By strengthening relationships and creating supportive networks, the circles help women and girls build the confidence and skills needed to lead positive change in their lives, families, and communities.
In connection with the communities we serve, we have designed three innovative social enterprise initiatives that create opportunities for young people and community members to build new skills, improve their wellbeing, and contribute positively to their local communities. Each project combines learning, leadership, health, and entrepreneurship to promote sustainable, community-led development
As part of our long-term vision, Make Ways Foundation plans to establish Entrepreneurial and Innovation Centres in Makeni and Kamakwie to equip young people, women, and aspiring business owners with the skills, tools, and support needed to build successful local enterprises. These centres will provide training in entrepreneurship, digital technology, business planning, marketing, financial literacy, and creative problem-solving, while offering mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to innovation resources. By combining technology, creativity, and practical business development, the centres will help community members transform ideas into sustainable businesses that create jobs, strengthen local economies, and drive community-led development.
The Make Ways Fitness & Wellness Centre is a community fitness hub planned for Kamakwie that promotes healthy lifestyles, wellbeing, and youth development. Through affordable gym access, fitness coaching, group exercise classes, and health education, the centre will create opportunities for people of all ages to improve their health, build confidence, and stay active while supporting local employment and community development. Using a social enterprise model, after one year, this facility would remain profitable sustainably by having a pop up store component, gym membership fees and classes offerings.
COAST-SL is a community-led water safety initiative that works with local surf clubs to promote drowning prevention, lifesaving skills, and safer coastal communities across Sierra Leone. Through water safety education, rescue training, first aid, and youth leadership opportunities, the project aims to build local capacity while helping more people safely enjoy and benefit from the country’s coastline. With additional support, Make Ways Foundation Sierra Leone aims to build out Training of Trainers for local lifeguards at multiple coastal beaches and ensure communities are supported to provide swimming and water safety classes for children.
How Can You Get Involved?
PASS IT ON
Done with your old sports gear?
We collect quality pre-loved sports shoes, clothing and equipment to pass on to people living in poverty.
ENJOY AN EVENT
Make your way to one of the many fundraising events we host throughout the year. Support an event by running. chatting, dancing, sharing or laughing!
MAKE A DONATION
All donations are currently directed to our flagship "Sierra Sport" programme. We are volunteer-run, so every dollar goes straight to this project.